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Five Ten Trailcross Clip-in Review

A light-duty trail shoe with decent power transfer and ventilation to spare
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Five Ten Trailcross Clip-in Review
Credit: Five Ten
Price:  $165 List
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Manufacturer:   Adidas Five Ten
By Zach Wick ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 16, 2022
76
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#18 of 20
  • Comfort - 25% 8.0
  • Traction and Walkability - 25% 9.0
  • Power Transfer - 20% 6.0
  • Weight - 15% 7.0
  • Durability - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

With a style that more closely resembles your dad's trainers than an aggressive mountain biking shoe, the Trailcross Clip-in strikes a fine balance between on-bike performance and off-bike comfort. An EVA midsole provides a solid pedaling platform but enough flexibility for a natural gait when it comes time to hop off the bike, and the airy textile upper breathes as well as any mountain bike shoe we've ever tested. The light-duty, trainer-esque construction and styling provide minimal foot protection and abrasion resistance but it does mean that these shoes feel and look natural in off-bike situations. Riders looking for a comfortable trail riding shoe with casual styling and great walkability should give this model a look.
REASONS TO BUY
On and off bike performance
Comfortable
Well-ventilated
REASONS TO AVOID
Minimal protection
Running shoe styling

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck Cross Country Shoe
Top Pick Award
Best for Adventure Riding
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck All-Mountain/Trail Shoe
Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
Price $149.95 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$170 List
$149.95 at Backcountry
$112.49 at REI
Compare at 4 sellers
$130 List
Check Price at Backcountry
$63.17 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line An athletically styled shoe with good ventilation and solid on-bike performanceAn XC/trail riding shoe that combines high performance with affordabilityFantastic shoes for adventurous rides and bikepacking thanks to moderate sole stiffness and great walkability/tractionLightweight with good power transfer and walkability, these are a reasonably priced trail riding shoe with casual stylingThese shoes offer a good blend of on and off-the-bike performance for casual trail riding or bikepacking
Rating Categories Five Ten Trailcross... Scott MTB Team Boa Pearl Izumi X-Alp S... Specialized 2FO Roo... Giro Gauge
Comfort (25%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
Traction and Walkability (25%)
9.0
6.0
10.0
9.0
10.0
Power Transfer (20%)
6.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
Weight (15%)
7.0
10.0
8.0
10.0
7.0
Durability (15%)
7.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Five Ten Trailcross... Scott MTB Team Boa Pearl Izumi X-Alp S... Specialized 2FO Roo... Giro Gauge
Closure Laces plus velcro strap Boa iP-1 dial, plus velcro strap Boa L6 dial Laces Laces
Measured Weight (per shoe) 436 grams 359 grams 435 grams 375 grams 452 grams
Size Tested 11 44 46 43.5 45
Width Options Regular Regular Regular Regular Regular
Upper Material Textile with abrasion resistant overlays Synthetic Polyurethane, 3D Airmesh Seamless perforated synthic upper Synthetic Leather and Textile Synchwire on-piece composite
Footbed Not specified ErgoLogic EVA heel support Specialized Body Geometry Die-cut EVA
Midsole EVA midsole Nylon/Glass Fiber Composite EVA heel cushioning Stiff Lollipop nylon composite plate Injected nylon shank
Outsole Stealth Marathon StickiRubber Vibram ECOSTEP SlipNot FG Rubber outsole

Our Analysis and Test Results

Once a niche climbing and mountain biking shoe brand, Five Ten was purchased by Adidas just over a decade ago. Since then, the core models have stayed true to Five Ten's style and quality, but we're starting to see more and more of the Adidas styling and branding creep into the lineup. The Trailcross Clip-in is a prime example, with a design that reminds us more of an early-2000s trainer than the old bombproof Five Ten Hellcats. This isn't to say that we didn't like the Trailcross—it's actually a great shoe—it just took us a little while to get used to the style. At times we wondered if these shoes might feel more at home in a spin class than smashing through rock gardens. Regardless, if you appreciate the style these shoes have a lot to offer.

Performance Comparison


five ten trailcross clip-in - after a month of testing and a good coating of mud and dust our...
After a month of testing and a good coating of mud and dust our Trailcross Clip-Ins started to look a bit more like a typical mountain bike shoe.
Credit: Zach Wick

Power Transfer


The product page for the Trailcross Clip-In makes no mention of the kind of nylon or carbon sole insert that we typically expect to find in a mountain bike shoe, so we were a little bit wary of how they would feel pedaling when we first ordered them. Once we got out on the trails though, we were surprised with their relatively snappy and stiff feel on the pedals. The EVA midsole provides ample stiffness to create a solid pedaling platform to stand on. Grinding up long climbs reveals minimal flex, and it's only when you really get up and stomp on the pedals that you can feel some give. These wouldn't be our first choice for any kind of racing situation, but as an everyday trail shoe they get the job done with aplomb.

five ten trailcross clip-in - the eva sole performs well under power, but the mesh upper leaves a...
The EVA sole performs well under power, but the mesh upper leaves a little bit to be desired.
Credit: Zach Wick

While the sole performs well, we found that the light-duty upper left something to be desired when laying down the power. On steep, punchy pitches of trail that require both pushing down and pulling up on the pedals the upper seems to stretch slightly and sap some of your upward-pulling power. It was pretty rare that we got ourselves into a situation where we felt this phenomenon, but regardless it isn't ideal.

Comfort


Like you would expect from any pair of trainers worth their salt, the Trailcross Clip-In is a comfortable shoe. The flexible upper forms well to your foot as you dial in the fit with the laces, and the EVA midsole helps to soak up trail chatter to keep your foot from fatiguing over time. The heel cup and tongue don't have as much padding as some of the most comfortable shoes we tested. The fit is a little bit on the narrow side of things, but our wide-footed tester didn't have any issues with it after some lace tension adjustment.

five ten trailcross clip-in - laces and a power strap over the instep provide a highly...
Laces and a power strap over the instep provide a highly customizable and secure fit.
Credit: Zach Wick

The cleat box offers an average amount of adjustability when setting up your cleats. We tend to run our cleats in a fairly average location, so we didn't have any issues. Riders that prefer to set up their cleats on either extreme—far forward or far back—might not be able to set these up to their preference, however.

Traction and Walkability


Off the bike is where the Trailcross Clip-In really shines. It wouldn't be our first choice for traversing rugged terrain, but for your average hike-a-bike, a walk down to the creek, or a trip to the brewery after your ride, this is one of the best shoes that we tested. The fact that it's a cycling shoe is barely apparent when you're walking up the trail. The toe box provides plenty of flex for a natural gait, and our SPD cleats were recessed enough in the outsole to avoid that pesky clicking sound with every step. With the hook-and-loop strap properly tightened we didn't experience any heel lift when walking up steep inclines. During testing we even tried out some light jogging in these shoes just to feel how they compared to a pair of trail running shoes. We definitely wouldn't want to run multiple miles in them, but for a few hundred feet of jogging we were happy.

five ten trailcross clip-in - off the bike, these shoes look and act like a typical trainer.
Off the bike, these shoes look and act like a typical trainer.
Credit: Zach Wick

The middle of the sole and around the cleat box features the Five Ten's typical raised dots with broader and slightly taller lugs at the toes and heel for added traction when walking up or down hill. The sole isn't the most aggressively lugged, but the Five Ten Stealth rubber provides great traction in almost all conditions from dry and dusty to wet and sloppy. We wouldn't want to traverse any steep, muddy inclines in these, but they're great for just about anything else.

Weight


We clocked our test pair of size-11 Trailcross Clip-In's at 436-grams per shoe when we pulled out our trusty kitchen scale, which places them right around the average of the shoes in our test. They're slightly lighter than most heavy-duty all-mountain models and slightly heavier than most cross country models. This is right around where we would expect a shoe like the Trailcross to fall. They don't have the same protective features as the more heavy-duty shoes, and they have more creature comforts than the bare-bones, ultra-light cross country models.

five ten trailcross clip-in - the light-duty mesh upper keeps the weight relatively low on this...
The light-duty mesh upper keeps the weight relatively low on this model.
Credit: Zach Wick

Durability


Like most Five Ten products, the Trailcross Clip-In is a well-built package that shouldn't fall apart on you without some abuse. We do worry about how light-duty mountain bike shoes like this hold up over the long haul though. When we put our test pair through the wringer over the course of a month they came out the other side looking a little bit worse for wear. Mountain bike shoes are typically subjected to mud, water, dust, and heavy forces along with frequent abrasion against rocks and trailside obstacles. The Trailcross has some light reinforcement in key areas and reinforcement in the toe box, but on the whole, the breathable mesh-like upper is fairly thin and prone to wear and tear.

five ten trailcross clip-in - the stealth rubber outsole sticks to the ground well in most...
The Stealth rubber outsole sticks to the ground well in most conditions.
Credit: Zach Wick

Value


With a price in the same ballpark as many of our favorite trail and all-mountain models, we think that there are better values out there than the Trailcross Clip-In. They're slightly better off the bike and more breathable than the average all-mountain shoe, but they lack the same foot protection, durability, and power transfer.

Conclusion


Despite our reservations, we found a lot to like when testing the Trailcross Clip-In. With all-day comfort, excellent breathability, and great walkability, they're a versatile option that may suit adventure riders in warm environments well.

five ten trailcross clip-in - after putting in the miles in these shoes we found a lot to like...
After putting in the miles in these shoes we found a lot to like, but we think there are better values out there.
Credit: Zach Wick

Zach Wick